Asten: Carillons, Mills and Nature Trails

In Asten, the attractions range from carillons and historic buildings to walking routes and nature trails. You can tailor your trip to the experiences that interest you, such as a museum visit, a guided tour of a monument or time on a hiking or cycling trail. The villages of Heusden and Ommel also offer their own cultural and activity highlights.

Bells, Mills and Architectural History

Museum Klok & Peel houses the world's largest collection of bells and carillons. Visitors can ring a bell and play a carillon themselves. In the Peel collection, prehistoric fossils and a mammoth skeleton offer a very different glimpse into the past. Sound and natural history come together in a single museum visit here.

The Church of the Presentation of Mary in Asten also has a special connection to carillons: its tower houses 57 bells, including the Mariaglocke, dating from 1447. Guided tours also explain the pulpit from 1848, the stained-glass windows and the oak Calvary group, considered the church's oldest work of art.

Asten Castle is a ruin, a listed national monument (Rijksmonument) and a site with a rich history. A 90-minute guided tour follows the walls and moat and shares stories about the castle. There is also a QR-code route around the estate. If you are planning a guided tour, check in advance for current visiting arrangements.

The building history of De Oostenwind windmill dates back to 1506; its original trestle from that time is still there. The mill is also a listed national monument (Rijksmonument). The miller welcomes visitors and explains the historic milling technology. Check in advance for current visiting arrangements.

Explore Ommel on Foot

The Processiepark Ommel was established on 13 April 1914 at the request of Pastor van de Pas. The park features a Calvary, a Lourdes grotto, 14 Stations of the Cross and six chapels depicting the story of the statue of Mary. A visit to the park offers a tangible glimpse into the area's religious history.

The Ommels Ommetje adds a walk through Ommel to your visit: the shorter loop is three kilometres long, while a five-kilometre option takes a detour through nature. After leaving the church square, the route passes the adjacent Processiepark and shares the area's history along the way. The starting point is opposite the café, at the information board by junction 46 of the De Peel cycle network. The two route lengths make it easy to choose a walk that suits the time you have available.

Nature Trails and Routes of Different Lengths

The Brabant section of De Groote Peel lies within the municipality of Asten. For centuries, peat cutters from Asten travelled there to cut peat. The landscape therefore represents not only nature, but also a historic connection between the town and the peatland.

In the Astense Aa nature area near Ommel, the river meanders for two kilometres; the area is freely accessible on roads and paths. The In de ban van de Astense Aa route is approximately 8.8 kilometres long and starts between Berken 5 and 9 in Ommel. It follows the Astense Aa and combines nature with artworks by Emelie Jegerings and Jolanda Tielens.

For a cycling trip, consider the 24-kilometre Natuurhistorisch Asten route, marked with hexagonal signs. It passes a botanical garden behind the church in Asten-Heusden, which is open to visitors free of charge. The Dennendijkse Bossen cover approximately 300 hectares and are designated for hiking and cycling. This gives you a choice between a specific cycling route and a larger forest area intended for recreation.

Visits and Seasonal Events

A visit to Puur Geitenzuivel in Heusden shows how milk is made into goat's milk products and cheese. The guided tour of the organic goat farm ends with a tasting of various products made on site. As tour availability can vary, ask about scheduling a visit in advance.

Every year during the summer months, funfairs are held in Asten, Heusden and Ommel. Dates and programmes change from year to year, so check them for the dates of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Heusden Gem Asten, Asten, Ommel.

Discover more destinations: Breda, Maasdonk, Veghel, Gilze En Rijen, Alphen-Chaam.

Go to the main travel overview: North Brabant.